South Indian Marriages In Simple Terms.

The biggest difference between North Indian and South Indian wedding celebrations is that the latter takes place throughout the day time rather than at night. The basis for the rituals coincide except that they are conducted in a different way.

The wedding celebration venue is typically a hall where the wedding mandap (a little covered canopy structure) has actually banana trees tied to both the posts, overhead festoons constructed from mango leaves strung together, and Rangoli made with coloured powder decorate at the entryway.

The evening prior the wedding day, the groom is led in a floral decked procession from a temple by the bride’s mum and dad to the wedding venue (Mandapam Hall). Once there, the formal espousal ceremony occurs. The elephant-headed god Ganapati, the God of Initiation, is invoked, and is entreated to to keep away all obstacles away from the pair getting married.

The custom of presenting new clothes to the pair is then performed.

The actual marriage is performed by a Vedic priest who chants ancient hymns and verses, recalling the names of 3 generations of ancestors of both, the bride and the groom in format of all gathered guest at the wedding. The bride and groom exchange garlands when they are raised onto the shoulders of their respective uncles.

The bride then sits on her father’s lap for the ‘Kanyadan’ (distributing the daughter) event to the bridegroom. The bride-to-be is provided with a Mangalsutra (the scared neckless that signifies she is now a married lady) in addition to a new sari which is draped around her by the groom’s sister.

Hereafter, the bridegroom walks 7 steps with his bride, holding her hand in his. The 7 steps are the most vital part of the wedding event ceremony.

The wedding celebration is followed by a sophisticated and savoury wedding banquet, normally vegetarian.